Costa Rican triathlete Rom Akerson took the first place in the Xterra World Championship 2018 that took place this Sunday, October 28 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.
Akerson, born in the United States, but who has lived in Costa Rica since he was a child, dreamed of this moment for many years, in fact, this was his tenth participation in this event, and he stopped the clock at 2:52:48.
The Xterra off-road triathlon competition involves a total 1.5 km of swimming, 32 km of cycling and 10.5 km of marathon. This event gathers 800 racers including 75 professionals and more than 700 amateurs representing 46 countries.
“The XTERRA World Championship race is the last in a series of more than 100 off-road triathlon races held in 30 countries and 38 U.S. States. The concept is to provide a bona-fide world championship for amateur and elite off-road triathletes. For pros there is $100,000 in prize money at stake”, explains the Xterra website.
This was the 23rd edition of the Xterra World Championship in Maui. Akerson was followed in second place by Bradley Weiss from South Africa who marked 2:53:17 and Sam Osborne from New Zealand in third place and a mark of 2:54:38.
“At the start of the cycling competition I suffered a lot, the rivals kept a fast pace, but I demanded myself to keep the pace, then they came down a bit, I followed my plan and then I attacked towards the end”, said Akerson to national daily La Nacion.
Akerson is 33 years-old and lives in Tambor, Puntarenas, “I want to dedicate this to Costa Rica, for the ticos, being the first world champion from Costa Rica. It is the best day of my life I am very happy”, said Akerson.
Akerson, born in the United States, but who has lived in Costa Rica since he was a child, dreamed of this moment for many years, in fact, this was his tenth participation in this event, and he stopped the clock at 2:52:48.
The Xterra off-road triathlon competition involves a total 1.5 km of swimming, 32 km of cycling and 10.5 km of marathon. This event gathers 800 racers including 75 professionals and more than 700 amateurs representing 46 countries.
“The XTERRA World Championship race is the last in a series of more than 100 off-road triathlon races held in 30 countries and 38 U.S. States. The concept is to provide a bona-fide world championship for amateur and elite off-road triathletes. For pros there is $100,000 in prize money at stake”, explains the Xterra website.
This was the 23rd edition of the Xterra World Championship in Maui. Akerson was followed in second place by Bradley Weiss from South Africa who marked 2:53:17 and Sam Osborne from New Zealand in third place and a mark of 2:54:38.
“At the start of the cycling competition I suffered a lot, the rivals kept a fast pace, but I demanded myself to keep the pace, then they came down a bit, I followed my plan and then I attacked towards the end”, said Akerson to national daily La Nacion.
Akerson is 33 years-old and lives in Tambor, Puntarenas, “I want to dedicate this to Costa Rica, for the ticos, being the first world champion from Costa Rica. It is the best day of my life I am very happy”, said Akerson.
